Game pieces



June 28, 1960 J. FoNTENLLl 2,942,885

GAME PIEES Filed March 4. 1959 INVENTOR. Jah/'v Fav rox/z L wm 29H1 Patented lJ une 28, 1960 GAME PIECES John Fontenelli, Clark, NJ., assignor to Fibro Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 797,126

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-82) This invention relates to game pieces. More particularly, it relates to bowling pins and the like, such as for example,. duckpins.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a structure for bowling pins or the like which makes feasible fabrication of the pins from plastics. While other materials could be employed to embody the construction, principal advantages of the invention, which are low cost and high durability, are most pronounced when plastics are employed.

Another objective is a construction not requiring the use of wood, yet one which facilitates compliance with weight requirements as is necessary to provide commercially acceptable pins and which permits compliance with other requirements such as ruggedness so as to withstand the impacts normally encountered in the use of the pins.

The manner in which these and other objectives are attained will be apparent from the following description considered in reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein there is depicted an embodiment of the invention. In the drawing:

Fig.V 1 is an elevation view, in cross-section, of a pin according to the invention;

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are axially transverse cross-sections taken, respectively, along line 2-2 and line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the pin shown in Fig. l and depicts the manner in which the principal pin parts are assembled.

According to the invention, a bowling pin or the like comprises an outer shell which substantially denes the outline of the pin, and is formed essentially by axially extending shell members which are secured together along axially extending edges thereof. The outer shell defines an axially extending cavity within the pin, and a core member, which serves to reinforce the shell, is positioned within the cavity. The core memberris formed essentially by a center post'and members or arms disposed axially transversely of the center post and at spaced intervals therealong. The core member is positioned within the cavity with the center post coaxial with the cavity and the core anns extending radially outwardly from the center post into abutment with the shell.

Referring tothe drawing, there is there shown a bowling pin ,comprising a body portion 6, which extends upwardly from the base 10 ofthe pin, a head portion 7, which extends downwardly from the top 5 of the pin, and a neck portion 8 disposed intermediate the body portion and head portion. An outer shell 9 substantially defines same time suitably limiting the number of shell parts necessary to work with. The shell members 11 and 12 can be identical and this of course facilitates production. The shell members are secured together along axial edges 13 so as to form the shell as a unitary piece.

The shell 9 defines an axially extending cavity 14 within the pin, and which extends along the pin body portion 6, neck portion 8 and top portion 7. The cavity can be circular in axially transverse cross-section and, from adjacent the pin base 10 to the neck portion 8, it increases and then decreases in diameter, and, from the neck portion 8 to the pin top 5, it increases and then decreases in diameter.

A core member 16 is positioned within the cavity 14. The core 16 is formed by an axially extending center post 17, which is disposed axially of the piu, and axially transverse members in the form of discs 18, which are disposed at axially spaced intervals along the post and extend radially outwardly of the center post into abutment with the inner surface 19 of the shell.

A distinctive feature of pins according to the invention is the provision of ledges 20 at locations along the inner surface 19 of the shell. The ledges 20 have axially extending inwardly facing surfaces 21 for receiving in abutting engagement the core discs 18. This construction facilitates assembly of the pin parts into tight tting relationship,

The manner of engagementof the core discs 18 and ledges 20 shown in the drawing is a preferred construction. Thus, the engagement edge or surface 23 of each of the. core discs 18 is normally axially spaced a short distance from the edge 24 of the ledge inner face 21 which abuts and which edge is disposed toward that adjacent portion of the shell 9 which has a decreasing diameter as it recedes from the ledge. As can be best seen in Fig. l, this construction willrpermitslight axial movement of the core member relative to the shell, when the shell and core member are not bonded together. This is desirable as it permits minor adjustment of the parts to compensate for dimensional inaccuracies and hence facilitates arranging the parts in tight fitting relationship.

Desirably, means such as an adhesive or solvent are employed to bond the core arms 18 to the ledges 20 after the parts have been assembled into tight fitting relationship. Y

A cylindrical opening 26 is disposed in the base 10 of the pin so that it is coaxial therewith, and the corre center post 17 has a bottom member 27 which extends coaxially therefrom and is received in the opening 26 in close tting relationship. This extension of the center post through the base 1() of the pin facilitates adjustment of the core member Within the cavity. A hole 28 is disposed in the core bottom member 27 in order to permit setting up of the pins when in use by lowering the pins over a small upright member adaptedto be received in the hole 28.

Desirably, the shell 9 is formed to provide a recess 29 about the periphery of the pin base 10, and a wear ring 31 is secured in the recess, Thus, excessive wear about the lower edge of the pin can be allowed for. The wear ring can be relatively tough material so as to better Withstand wear or can be mounted so as to be replaceable.

The preferred materials of construction for the pins of the invention are plastics. Various plastic materials are suitable and such materials will readily occur to those skilled in the art. An example of such a material 'is cellulose acetate butyrate. The shell members and core member can each be made of the same material, or if.

desired, dierent materials can be used. Opaque, translucent or transparent plastics can be used. The pin parts canV be secured together by use of adhesives and solvents in ways and with compositions well known to those skilled in the art.

' fore, the shell is formed of two parts.

The' parts can be made by injection molding or other known means. Advantageously, as mentioned hereinbe- Desirably, the core member is an integral plasticY s trueture including the centerpost `and discs. The, parts can be,suitablyproportioned to provide the necessarytotal weight; weight dis#V tribution and strength, Advantageously, as is shown in the drawing, the central portion of the shell ,body` portion 6 canV be made of increased'wall thickness in order to provide the'YA necessary 'strength forjthis portionof the pin which issubjected Vto high impact forces during normal use.

The pins Vcan be made by applying an adhesive or suitable solvent to the surfaces which are to abut, assembling by these Letters Patent.

What is'claimed is: Y 1. A game piece useful as a bowlingrpin, comprising a bodyportion extending upwardly from the baseof the pin, a head portion extending downwardly from the top of the pin Vand a neck portion disposed intermediate the body portion and the head portion, said pin comprising an'outer shell which substantially deines the outline ofY said-pin portions and is formed essentially byaxially extending shell members securedgtogether along axially extendingy edges thereof, said outer shell defining an axially extending cavity which extends along `the body portion, said cavity from adjacent thebase ofthe pinto the neck member thereof increasing andY then decreasing in diameter, a core member for reinforcing the shell positioned Within said cavity, said core member being formed essentiallyY by an axially extending center post which is disposed axially of the pin, and axially transverseV membersfdisposed at axially spaced intervals along the post and extending radially outwardly of the center post into abutment with the inner surface of the shell,y said shell having positioned on theY inner surface thereof ledges havingaxially extending inwardly facing'surfaces for receiving in abutting engagement the core member axially transverse members, whereby assembly Vof the shell members and'core Vmember into tight fitting relationship is facilitated.

2. A game piece useful as abowling pin, according to claim Vl, said core axially transverse members having peripheral engagement edges for abutment with the facing surfaces'of the ledges, the engagement surface of each core axially transverse member being Ynormally spaced a short axial distance from the edge of the ledge inner face which it abuts and whichedge is disposed toward that adjacent portion of the shell which has a decreasing diameter asY it recedes from the ledge, whereby, the core member Vwhen unbonded to the shell'is slidably moveable relative to the shell and thereby adjustment in position ofthe core member can be made to facilitate assembly of the pin shell members and core.

3. AV game piece useful as a bowling pin, comprising a'body portion extending upwardly from the base of the pin, a head portion extending downwardly from the top body portion and the head portion said pin comprising an outer shell which substantially defines the' outline of said pin portions and is formed essentially by axially extending shell members'secured together along axially extending edges thereof, said outer shell dening an axially extending cavity which extends along the body portion, neck portion and head portion-said cavity from adjacent the base of the pin to the neck member thereof increasing and then decreasing in diameter, said cavity from the neck portion to the pin top increasing and thenv decreasing in diameter, a core member for reinforcing the shell postioned within said cavity, said core member being formed essentiallyby anaxially extending center post which is disposed axially of the pin, and axially transverse members disposed at axially spaced intervals along the post and extending radially outwardly of the center post into abutment with the inner surface of the shell, said shell having. positioned on the inner. surface. thereof ledges having axially extending inwardly facingv surfaces for receiving in abutting engagement. thecore member axially transverse members, whereby assembly. ofthe shell members and core member into tight fitting. relationship is facilitated.

4. A game piece useful as a. bowling pin, according toV claim 3, saidcore axially transverse members. having peripheralV engagement edges for abutmentwiththe facing surfaces of the ledges, the engagement surfaceofy each core axially transverse.memberbeingnormally spaced a short axial distance from theedgeof'theledge inner'facc which it abuts and whichA edge-is disposed. toward that adjacent portion ofthe Vshell which has a. decreasing diameter as it recedesl from theledge,` wherebyv the core of the pin and a neck portion disposed intermediate the member whenunbonded to thershell islslid'ablyv moveable relative to the shell and thereby adjustment inV position of the coremember can bemadeto facilitateY assembly of the pin shell members and core.` 1

5. A game piecev us'efulas a bowlingpin, according to claimV 4, said pin having meansdening an. opening in the base thereof, said opening being ofuniform axially transverse cross-sectionV and coaxialV withV .ther pin,.-said core center post having a bottom memberv extending coaxially therefrom, said corebottom member being. received in said opening in close fitting relationship.

6. A game piece useful as a bowling pin, according to claim 4, said shell membersbeingformedof plastic, said` core member including the center post and.. axially transverse members being an integral plastic, structure and said core axially transverse members being discswhich extend radially outwardly from the'V c orecentenpost.

7. A game Vpiece useful as a bowling pin, according to claim 6, said pin having means deningan opening in the baseA thereof, saidY openingpbei'ng.. of,Y uniform axially transverse cross-section Vand coaxial with-.the pin,V said .core center post having a bottornmembery extending coaXially therefrom, said' core bottom member being` received in said opening in close ttingrelationship.

RefereucesCited in the tile of this. patent UNITED STATES. PATENTSV Finland, Y.- vJuly 2 7, l'194s ...WN-W... Les'. dna. 

